Pardew accepts misconduct charge

HULL, ENGLAND - MARCH 01: David Meyler of Hull City clashes with Alan Pardew, Manager of Newcastle United during the Barclays Premier League match between Hull City and Newcastle United at KC Stadium on March 1, 2014 in Hull, England. (Photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images)

London – Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has admitted a Football Association charge of misconduct after head-butting Hull midfielder David Meyler, English football's governing body announced Thursday.

The 52-year-old Englishman, who had until 1800GMT on Thursday to respond to the charge, has requested a personal hearing, the date of which has yet to be set.

“Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has admitted an FA misconduct charge in relation to his side's game against Hull City on March 1, 2014,” the FA statement said.

“Pardew was involved in an incident with a Hull City player in the 72nd minute of this fixture. Pardew has requested a personal hearing, the date of which will be set in due course.”

When the FA intially charged Pardew on Monday, officials said his case had been designated “non-standard” due to the “serious violent and/or aggressive nature of the reported behaviour”.

That left the Magpies boss facing the prospect of a lengthy touchline or even stadium ban for an extraordinary attack by a manager that was widely condemned throughout English football.

What made Pardew's actions all the more remarkable was that at the time of his clash with Meyler, Newcastle were leading 3-1 in a Premier League fixture they eventually won 4-1.

Police are taking no criminal action over the incident but Newcastle have already fined their manager £100,000 ($167,000), although club owner Mike Ashley has so far resited calls to sack Pardew.

“His behaviour was unacceptable and is not the behaviour we expect from the manager of Newcastle United,” the north-east club said in a statement after the match.

Pardew, for his part, apologised afterwards by saying: “It was a heat of the moment thing. I massively regret it. He was right on top of me and I wanted to just ease him away from me but obviously I put my head in a forward motion. You can't do that.

“I want to apologise to him, everyone at Hull and obviously my own fans as well.

“Sometimes when you're on the sideline you can get involved in a moment like that. I don't think it was a headbutt. It wasn't a motion that was quick.”

It is not the first time Pardew had been involved in an unsavoury incident on the touchline.

In 2006, when in charge of West Ham, his exuberant celebration of a goal led to a row with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger while in September 2012 he was fined £20,000 for shoving a linesman and banned for two matches after disputing the award of a throw-in.

And it was only in January that Pardew escaped FA action for swearing at Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini during City's 2-0 win at Newcastle's St James' Park ground. – Sapa-AFP